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A viable option to look at when LASIK is not right for you... LASEK, or Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis, is a revolutionary new way to correct vision problems. It has recently been introduced to help patients who are not candidates for Lasik. Also known as Epi-Lasik or bladeless Lasikand as a variation of PRK, LASEK is primarily used for patients with cornea's that are too thin or too steep for Lasik. The procedure is very similar to traditional Lasik, except that it does not involve making a flap in the cornea, which is then reflected back to allow laser treatment underneath. During Lasek, the epithelium, or outer layer of the cornea, is folded back using an alcohol solution filled instrument called a trephine, which is finer than the microkeratome cutting tool used in Lasik. It is as if a tiny ‘hoe’ is being used to lift the edge of the epithelial and gently fold it out of the way. Since only the covering or ‘wallpaper’ of the cornea is reflected back to allow laser treatment underneath, the possibility of inherent complications that can occur in patients with thin or steep cornea's is eliminated. The surgeon then employs the same Excimer Laser used in Lasik to sculpt the corneal tissue underneath. Afterward, the epithelial flap is placed back on the eye with a kind of spatula. A contact lens bondage is then placed on the eye until the epithelium heals, which normally takes three to four days. Like Lasik, most under or over corrections are easily treated with an enhancement, which is done three to six months after the procedure. Enhancements are much less common with Lasek than Lasik. Lasek has made it possible for those who have been turned down for Lasik to have safe laser vision correction. However, the healing time and the time it takes to gain good vision is often longer, five to seven days on average, when compared to traditional Lasik.